He’s making a list and he’s checking it twice, and he will find out if you have been naughty or nice.

Well, readers, I hope most of you have been well behaved – as much as college students can possibly be – as the holidays quickly approach us. For myself, I have found that the older I get, the lamer my Christmas list becomes. In fact, if Santa read my list this year he’d probably break down and openly weep.

A suit? Socks? Money for rent? What kind of kid wants that?

Well there are some other things, but I’m not sure that Santa can deliver them to me. So here it is, my holiday wish list to Bucky for the holidays and break.

Give me a win in the Rose Bowl

That one is pretty obvious. Last year, I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to travel to Pasadena and experience one of the greatest sporting events that football has to offer. Since I’ll be with the team in spirit watching a television from a Madison bar stool, I’m praying on bended knee that Wisconsin can win The Granddaddy of Them All.

Last year, the Badgers were a batted two-point conversion away from sending the game to overtime against a veteran TCU team with arguably the best defense in the country. This time around, Wisconsin’s defense will be tested by the high-flying Oregon offense. Wisconsin has struggled the few times it has faced a great offensive team (Michigan State), and against the Ducks’ spread attack, the Badgers will have their hands full. However, Wisconsin also has one of the nation’s best offenses, both balanced and explosive.

This game will also effectively serve to measure the Big Ten against the Pac 12. If Wisconsin hopes to continue its emergence back into the national spotlight, the Badgers must put forth their finest team performance to date. This game is sure to be a great one, but I’m asking Bucky and Santa to deliver the Badger faithful a win this time.

I’m also recommending that no one make a drinking game out of the Rose Bowl. One of my friends had the idea to take a shot every time an offense scores. Both teams average over 40 points a game. Count me out.

Help Wisconsin basketball find its game

Lately, watching the Badgers has given me more gut-wrenching moments than coaching my team of 8th graders back home. The Badgers relied on a 3-point shooting spree by Ben Brust to finish off a pesky UNLV team last weekend while leaning on Milwaukee’s awful free throw shooting to escape with a win Tuesday night.

Besides his perfect 7-for-7 effort in the UNLV game, Brust has struggled from beyond the arc in December, as have the majority of the Badgers. Jordan Taylor hasn’t yet reached the scoring frenzy we are all so accustomed to.

Basketball is a game that’s all about getting hot at the right time, but lately, the Badgers have cooled off. With the Big Ten season fast approaching and the league stacked top to bottom this year, the Badgers will need to be playing their best basketball night in and night out against the conference. Many analysts are calling the Big Ten the best conference in the nation, so Wisconsin will need to develop a rhythm to continue its dominance in conference play. There is definitely talent on this team and the potential to be a Big Ten title contender, but the offense needs to get in a groove as the team eases into conference play after a weak non-conference schedule.

Let Montee Ball break the touchdown record

At the Heisman ceremony this past Saturday, Ball was in truly elite company with the likes of Andrew Luck, Tyrann Mathieu’s suit, RGIII and Trent Richardson. It sure looked like the running back belonged – Ball handled himself and represented Wisconsin perfectly.

Just knowing Ball’s story and perseverance throughout his career here at Wisconsin, I’m not sure there is a more deserving player to break Barry Sanders’ illustrious NCAA record for touchdowns in a single season. The determination and readiness Ball displayed while waiting for his chance last year at Iowa, his extreme dedication in the offseason to cut weight and his unbelievable success on the gridiron makes me proud to wear the No. 28 jersey I have from when Anthony Davis was the running back at Wisconsin. Facing LaMichael James and Oregon in the Rose Bowl is a perfect way for Ball to break the record. I asked for Ball to win the Heisman, but I suppose I can settle with him taking his place in the history books.

To all my Badgers and readers, happy holidays and thanks for reading this semester. On Wisconsin.

Nick will be back again to write more boring columns next semester. Have a column topic for next semester? Email Nick at[email protected]. Happy festivus!